Information carrier integrated with an optically readable information symbol
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optically readable information carrier comprising:
- an information symbol having a predetermined area and including an optically readable mark, the optically readable mark indicating at least part of the predetermined area, the information symbol being optically readable by an information reader after the predetermined area has been identified thereby; and
a mask member removably adhered on the information symbol and arranged toabut on the information symbol, andmask at least part of the optically readable mark while keeping presence of the information symbol externally visible to change the predetermined area of the information symbol to be continuously unidentifiable unless any one of the mask member and the information symbol is removed from the other thereof, whereinthe information symbol has an outer periphery defining the predetermined area and a first color with a first light reflectance,the mask member is arranged adjacently around the outer periphery of the information symbol and has a second color with a second light reflectance, the first light reflectance and the second light reflectance substantially being equivalent to each other, andthe optically readable information carrier is configured such that, when a frame formed with a slit whose shape and size are equivalent to a shape and size of the information symbol is removably mounted on the optically readable information carrier with the slit being aligned with the information symbol, the frame masks the mask member to expose the optically readable mark of the information symbol.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an optically readable information carrier, an information symbol has a predetermined area and includes an optically readable mark. The optically readable mark indicates at least part of the predetermined area. The information symbol is optically readable by an information reader after the predetermined area has been identified thereby. A mask member is arranged to abut on the information symbol. The mask member is also arranged to mask at least part of the optically readable mark while keeping presence of the information symbol externally visible to change the predetermined area of the information symbol to be unidentifiable.
24 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. An optically readable information carrier comprising:
-
an information symbol having a predetermined area and including an optically readable mark, the optically readable mark indicating at least part of the predetermined area, the information symbol being optically readable by an information reader after the predetermined area has been identified thereby; and a mask member removably adhered on the information symbol and arranged to abut on the information symbol, and mask at least part of the optically readable mark while keeping presence of the information symbol externally visible to change the predetermined area of the information symbol to be continuously unidentifiable unless any one of the mask member and the information symbol is removed from the other thereof, wherein the information symbol has an outer periphery defining the predetermined area and a first color with a first light reflectance, the mask member is arranged adjacently around the outer periphery of the information symbol and has a second color with a second light reflectance, the first light reflectance and the second light reflectance substantially being equivalent to each other, and the optically readable information carrier is configured such that, when a frame formed with a slit whose shape and size are equivalent to a shape and size of the information symbol is removably mounted on the optically readable information carrier with the slit being aligned with the information symbol, the frame masks the mask member to expose the optically readable mark of the information symbol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An optically readable information carrier comprising:
-
an information symbol having a predetermined area and including an optically readable mark, the optically readable mark indicating at least part of the predetermined area, the information symbol being optically readable by an information reader after the predetermined area has been identified thereby; and a mask member removably adhered on the information symbol and arranged to abut on the information symbol, and mask at least part of the optically readable mark while keeping presence of the information symbol externally visible to change the predetermined area of the information symbol to be continuously unidentifiable unless any one of the mask member and the information symbol is removed from the other thereof, wherein the information symbol has an outer periphery defining the predetermined area and a first color with a first light reflectance, the mask member is arranged adjacently around the outer periphery of the information symbol and has a second color with a second light reflectance, the first light reflectance and the second light reflectance substantially being equivalent to each other, the information symbol and the mask member are integrally printed in the respective first and second colors on an adhered surface of an object, and the optically readable information carrier further comprises a cutoff indicating mark arranged around the mask member and configured to indicate boundary lines between the outer periphery of the information symbol and the mask member. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. An optically readable information carrier comprising:
-
an information symbol having a predetermined area and including an optically readable mark, the optically readable mark indicating at least part of the predetermined area, the information symbol being optically readable by an information reader after the predetermined area has been identified thereby; and a mask member removably adhered on the information symbol and arranged to abut on the information symbol, and mask at least part of the optically readable mark while keeping presence of the information symbol externally visible to change the predetermined area of the information symbol to be continuously unidentifiable unless any one of the mask member and the information symbol is removed from the other thereof, wherein the information symbol has an outer periphery defining the predetermined area and a first color with a first light reflectance, the mask member is arranged adjacently around the outer periphery of the information symbol and has a second color with a second light reflectance, the first light reflectance and the second light reflectance substantially being equivalent to each other, the information symbol is composed of a plurality of cells, each of the cells being in any one of the first color and second color, and the optically readable information carrier further comprises a sticker with an adhesion surface to be removably adhered at the adhesion surface on an adhered surface of an object, the information symbol being printed on the adhesion surface of the sticker, the mask member is a mask pattern with the second color, the mask pattern being printed on a predetermined portion of the adhesion surface of the sticker, no cells of the information symbol being printed on the predetermined portion of the adhesion surface wherein upon removal of the sticker from the adhered surface of the object, the information symbol is configured to be transferred to the adhered surface of the object, and the mask pattern is configured to remain in the sticker.
-
Specification